- Copsychus malabaricus
Includes: White-crowned Shama
Identification
22-28cm
- Black bill
- Pink feet
Male
- Glossy black
- Chestnut belly
- White feathers on the rump and outer tail
Females: grey-brown, shorter than males
Juvenile: similar to the female, with blotches or spots on the chest.
Distribution
South and south east Asia, introduced to Kaua'i, O'ahu and Moloka'i, in the Hawaiian Islands. Seems to be spreading to other islands in Maui County.
Taxonomy
Subspecies[1]
About 20 subspecies accepted:
- C. m. malabaricus: Southern peninsula India
- C. m. leggei: Sri Lanka
- C. m. indicus: Nepal, to Assam and north-eastern India
- C. m. interpositus: South-western China to Myanmar, Thailand, Indochina and Mergui Archaepelago
- C. m. minor: Hainan (southern China)
- C. m. mallopercnus: Malay Peninsula, Riau Archipelago and Lingga Archipelago
- C. m. tricolor : Sumatra, western Java, Banka, Belitung and Karimata islands
- C. m.s mirabilis: Prinsen Island (Sunda Strait)
- C. m. melanurus: Islands off north-western Sumatra
- C. m. opisthopelus: Islands off south-western Sumatra
- C. m. javanus: Central Java
- C. m. omissus: Eastern Java
- C. m. ochroptilus: Anambas Islands (South China Sea)
- C. m. abbotti: Bangka and Belitung islands (off Borneo)
- C. m. eumesus: Natuna Islands (off Borneo)
- C. m. suavis: Borneo (except northern part)
- C. m. nigricauda: Kangean Islands and Matasiri Island (Java Sea)
- C. m. stricklandii: Lowlands of northern Borneo, Labuan, Balembangan and Banggi islands
- C. m. barbouri: Maratua Islands (off northern Borneo)
Stricklandi (together with barbouri) from Borneo is sometimes considered a full species, White-crowned Shama. Andaman Shama was formerly included in this species.
Habitat
Valley forests and lowland broadleaf forests.
Behaviour
Breeding
The nest is built of roots, leaves and other vegetative material which is placed near the ground. The eggs are white to light bluey-green, with brown blotches. Incubate takes between 12 and 15 days.
Diet
The diet includes grasshoppers, termites, caterpillars, grubs, and fruit. The young are fed earthworms and insects.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Memo.mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
Recording by wavethree
Pulau Ubin, Singapore
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Wikipedia
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) White-rumped Shama. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 May 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/White-rumped_Shama